Cal should end search, name Travis DeCuire coach

Updated 1:29 pm, Thursday, April 3, 2014

Cal should junk the executive search firm in the hunt for a replacement for basketball coach Mike Montgomery. And use Montgomery as its personal Bears search firm.

Great idea, huh?

Montgomery made an unusually impassioned plea Monday for athletic director Sandy Barbour to name associate head coach Travis DeCuire as his successor. Rarely does an outgoing coach use his farewell platform for such forceful lobbying. But Montgomery firmly believes DeCuire is the right person to lead Cal men's basketball into the future. It's one of the reasons he's comfortable stepping down.

"I feel like we've got the program positioned where it's very positive," Montgomery said. "We have people in place who can take this thing forward."

NCAA STAN11/22MAR98/SP/WARD--Stanford coach Mike Montgomery walks from the floor after cutting down net after Stanford victory over Rhode Island. By Brant Ward/Chronicle

NCAA STAN11/22MAR98/SP/WARD--Stanford coach Mike Montgomery walks from the floor after cutting down net after Stanford victory over Rhode Island. By Brant Ward/Chronicle

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A frustrated Mike Montgomery looks away from the court late into the 4th period. California defeated Nevada at Reno 75-66 in Berkeley
Dec 20, 2008.

A frustrated Mike Montgomery looks away from the court late into the 4th period. California defeated Nevada at Reno 75-66 in Berkeley
Dec 20, 2008.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

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Stanford coach Mike Montgomery signals to his team during their first round game against the College of Charleston in the NCAA Midwest Regional Friday, March 13, 1998, at the United Center in Chicago. Stanford advanced in the regional with a 67-57 win. (AP Photo/Beth A. Keiser)

Stanford coach Mike Montgomery signals to his team during their first round game against the College of Charleston in the NCAA Midwest Regional Friday, March 13, 1998, at the United Center in Chicago. Stanford

Mike Montgomery speaks at a press conference shortly after being named Californias mens basketball coach, on Saturday, April 5, 2008, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Mike Montgomery speaks at a press conference shortly after being named Californias mens basketball coach, on Saturday, April 5, 2008, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Photo: Noah Berger, AP

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Cal should end search, name Travis DeCuire coach

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Yet Barbour confirmed that Cal will hire DHR International to conduct a nationwide search. That's the same firm that discovered Sonny Dykes, the football coach who - thus far - has not exactly been a fabulous hit at Berkeley. Cal has not revealed how much it spent for DHR International's help, but according to Forbes magazine, fees can range up to $250,000 for a Division I coach.

DeCuire has been at Cal for all six years of Montgomery's tenure. He understands the campus culture and the issues surrounding Cal athletics, including the recent, abysmal graduation rates. He has been included on lists of up-and-coming young African American coaches.

"Players in the program trust Travis," Montgomery said. "That's huge in today's business."

But Barbour has been under pressure recently. There's speculation about her job security, and she may want to make a splashy hire. A relatively anonymous assistant may not have the kind of national cachet and impact she thinks she needs.

However, DHR International is part of Barbour's problem. Unless Dykes makes significant improvement, he will continue to reflect poorly on Barbour.

Cal may have its best candidate in-house. And, it should save money wherever it can.